Clinical Laboratory Science - Grangegorman

What is... Clinical Laboratory Science?
Please note, due to the great demand for this course early application is essential. Applications for places on this course will be assessed promptly when received. You are thus strongly advised to apply early for this programme.

This MSc programme is designed to equip students with a mixture of skills which integrate the basic and applied life sciences, general research methodology and transferrable skills. This particular skill-mix is essential for the unique responsibilities of the senior medical and/or research scientist and provides a foundation for lifelong learning in this area. These skills will enhance employability in a variety of laboratory settings, including hospital pathology laboratories, advanced research facilities and other diagnostic environments. Throughout the course particular emphasis will be placed on the importance of the pathology laboratory in the diagnostic process.

This course is accredited by the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science (AMLS). It part-fulfills the criteria for employment as a senior medical scientist (see acslm.ie for further information).

This is a fully modularized programme which consists of nine taught modules and an experimental research project. Seven of these modules are founded on core topics designed to develop students’ knowledge and understanding in the molecular basis and laboratory detection of human disease and to equip them with essential transferable skills for scientific and professional development:

Medical Laboratory Management 1: Management & Quality
Medical Laboratory Management 2: Operations & Processes
Advanced Diagnostics
Point of Care Testing
Research Methods and Biostatistics
Cell Biology and Immunology
Bioinformatics and Data Analysis

In both years students also select from one of four available specialist discipline modules which will be drawn from the following:

Haematological Neoplasms & Lymphoma
Advanced Topics in Clinical Chemistry
Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance
Transfusion Science and Transplantation
Advances in Cellular Pathology and Clinical Cytology
Benign Haematology & Haemostasis
Microbial Pathogenicity & Diagnostics
Clinical Immunology

Finally, students are required to undertake of an experimental research project in a particular specialist discipline.

Minimum Entry Requirements?
Entry to this coures is based on competitive selection, and applicants who have excellent primary degrees in the broad area of biomedical science will be considered with the minimum requirement for entry being a second class grade honours bachelor degree. Individuals who are eligible for membership of the AMLS or hold Part I/Part II Fellowship of the IBMS are also entitled to apply.

Qualifications recognised as equivalent to the above will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the admissions sub-committee and applicants to the course may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

Note that students enrolled on the MSc course must complete a laboratory-based research project and it is the responsibility of the student to secure access to suitable facilities, support and academic supervision for the completion of this project.

Applications for courses commencing in September 2024 will open in November 2023.

There is a broad range of assessment components across the different modules. Representative assessments may include the following

- Devise a strategy to establish and validate an assay for an emerging biomarker;
- Literature review or dissertation;
- Oral presentation (e.g. clinical workplace case study);
- Practical data analysis and interpretation;
- Preparation of an application to an institutional research ethics committee or funding body, and evaluation of that of a fellow student;
- Preparation of a lay summary of a current scientific article;
- Workplace audit.

2 Years

Mode of Study Part Time
Method of Delivery Blended

Schedule
The part-time course involves students attending tuition over a two year period. This programme is delivered primarily online (>80%) and uses a combination of blended learning, day-release and block-release formats over the course of two academic years.

In addition to this formal instruction, students are expected to engage in self-directed learning, course work, assignments, tutor interaction and project work during the remaining time. In total there are less than 20 days of college-based tuition spread over two years. Students who are in employment will be required to organise release from their employment to attend on those days.

Commencement Date: September 2024

What are my career opportunities?
Graduates have the opportunity to take up senior posts in the clinical pathology service, in the hospital pathology sector, biomedical industry and research institutes.